About Phoenix Tailings
Phoenix Tailings is a U.S.-based rare earth metals company building the most technologically advanced rare earth manufacturing platform in the world. The company develops and deploys breakthrough technologies across chemistry, industrial hardware, and digital infrastructure to produce rare earth metals and critical materials domestically at lower cost, higher efficiency, and greater scale.
We operate a fully integrated rare earth production platform spanning extraction, separation, refining, and metallization with a zero waste and zero emissions philosophy. The company is focused on restoring America's leadership in critical minerals and building the foundation for a secure domestic supply chain powering defense, energy, robotics, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.
Why Phoenix Tailings
At Phoenix, we believe nothing great is ever accomplished alone - or without the passion of people who push and motivate one another. You’ll be joining a team building the foundational infrastructure for the modern world, developing entirely new ways to produce rare earth and critical metals domestically, cleanly, and at scale.
Our Values:
● You are only crazy if you are wrong, it’s ok to be wrong
● Lead with Compassion
● Be Resourceful
● Listen
● Hustle
About the Role
Phoenix Tailings is looking for a Vice President of Engineering Projects to lead the execution of our most significant engineering and capital projects, including the continued development of our Freedom facility and future large-scale production infrastructure.
This executive will take ownership of major project delivery from engineering development and EPCM strategy through construction, commissioning, and operational handoff. You will establish the project execution systems, technical governance, commercial discipline, and external partnerships required to deliver complex industrial facilities safely, efficiently, and at the pace demanded by Phoenix's growth.
We are looking for a leader who has delivered major capital projects in technically demanding industrial environments and understands what it takes to move from process design to an operating facility. This person should be equally comfortable reviewing engineering decisions, challenging an EPCM partner, managing major project risk, and building the internal organization required to deliver the next generation of Phoenix Tailings facilities.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the engineering and execution strategy for Phoenix Tailings' major capital projects, including the Freedom facility and future commercial-scale rare earth and critical metals production assets.
Own project delivery across engineering, procurement, construction management, commissioning, and startup, establishing clear accountability for scope, schedule, cost, quality, safety, and technical performance.
Direct and manage EPCM firms, engineering consultants, construction partners, equipment suppliers, and other external organizations responsible for delivering complex industrial projects.
Establish project governance, stage-gate processes, design review standards, change controls, risk management systems, cost controls, and reporting structures capable of supporting a rapidly expanding capital portfolio.
Drive projects from conceptual and front-end engineering through detailed design, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness while ensuring designs remain aligned with Phoenix's process technology and long-term manufacturing strategy.
Provide executive oversight of capital budgets, project forecasts, contracting strategies, procurement decisions, contingencies, and major commercial commitments.
Identify and resolve critical technical, schedule, constructability, supply-chain, and execution risks before they impact project milestones or facility performance.
Build and lead an internal engineering projects organization capable of overseeing multiple large-scale industrial programs as Phoenix expands its rare earth and critical metals production footprint.
Ensure new facilities are designed for safe operation, maintainability, reliability, expansion, and efficient lifecycle performance rather than simply achieving initial project completion.
Partner with process development, manufacturing, operations, and company leadership to ensure Phoenix's technology can be translated into facilities capable of reliable and economic commercial-scale production.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's, Master's or PHD in Engineering or a related technical discipline; advanced technical or business degree is a plus.
15+ years of progressive experience delivering major capital projects in mining, minerals processing, metals, chemical processing, refining, heavy industrial, or similarly complex process industries.
Demonstrated leadership of large-scale capital programs with total installed costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars, ideally including projects of approximately $500 million or greater.
Extensive experience directing EPC, EPCM, or owner-led project delivery models across engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup.
Proven track record of taking complex industrial facilities from early engineering and project definition through construction and successful operational handoff.
Deep understanding of project controls, capital estimating, scheduling, contracting, procurement, construction management, risk management, commissioning, and project governance.
Demonstrated ability to lead and challenge major engineering contractors, construction organizations, technology providers, and equipment suppliers while maintaining accountability for project outcomes.
Experience building and leading high-performing engineering or capital projects organizations responsible for multiple concurrent programs.
Strong technical judgment and the ability to evaluate complex engineering decisions across process systems, mechanical equipment, infrastructure, constructability, reliability, and operability.
Executive-level communication and decision-making skills, with the ability to clearly communicate project status, risks, tradeoffs, and capital requirements to company leadership and other key stakeholders.
What we Offer
This pay range reflects best estimate for the total cash compensation which includes salary + discretionary bonus for this role. Total package may vary based on experience and qualifications.
Pay Range: $250,000- $350,000 total cash compensation plus equity
Healthcare: 100% Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employee.
Stock Options: Ownership in a fast-growing venture-backed company.
Time Off: Unlimited PTO.
Learning: Learning and development opportunities to grow your skills and career.
At Phoenix Tailings, we have an open culture that values learning, and we are looking to grow the team with enthusiastic individuals who share our vision of sustainable mining.
Phoenix Tailings, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we value diversity at all levels. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information, or any other applicable protected characteristics, and these characteristics will not be a factor for consideration of any work-related decisions (including but not limited to hiring, firing, compensation, and discipline).
